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I recently found myself needing to record the sound coming from a program such as a VOIP or SIP client. Unlike Windows, which has specialized apps to record any and all sound output, in linux you have to work a bit harder.

In Windows, to record from Skype you can use the MP3 Skype Recorder which is freeware (link below). To record a SIP / VOIP session, X-lite can be used and it is also free - covered in our first VOIP from scratch episode. Finally, to record Internet radio (streaming), one can use VLC or simply RadioSure (link below), which will also name the recorded file. Some claim success with Audacity as well (a free, open source audio editor) by choosing in the program WaveOUT as the source of the recording in the program and making sure it's not muted in the Windows Audio Properties. Other such freeware programs are Freecorder, HardDiskOgg (OSS, recommended), MP3DirectCut (links below).

legal or not?

It is worth noting that even in the event that you manage to get the technical aspects of recording working, you should also look at the legality. Some countries, such as Canada, Finland, UK, USA are one party notification jurisdictions. This means that at least one participant in the conversation must know that the recording is taking place. Even then, the recording cannot be used for any purpose - that requires more disclosure / notification. Other jurisdictions require two party notification, such as Germany and the following states:

California

Connecticut

Florida

Illinois

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Montana

Nevada

New Hampshire

Pennsylvania

Washington

Accepted forms of notifications, as defined by FCC, are:

Prior verbal or written consent of all parties to the telephone conversation.

Verbal notification before the recording is made. (This is the most common)

An audible beep tone repeated at regular intervals during the course of the call.

It is increasingly becoming an offense to record something protected by copyright and also with an encryption scheme, via Intellectual Property laws inspired by the infamous DMCA and imposed on an unsuspecting public via ACTA.

linux world

In Linux, certain methods work depending on the configuration of your Ubuntu sound (Alsa vs Pulse Audio). This includes both the free, multiplatform Audacity and the excellent Ubuntu Sound Recorder (found in Applications -> Sound and Video -> Audio Production). Though an X-lite version exists for Linux, it is older (2, as opposed to 3 for Windows) and does not have the record feature. For Skype, the Free MP3 Recorder only works in Windows. Some of the Windows methods could be made to work using Wine, but that is not what a Linux user wants, generally.

quick recording

The quickest way to record whatever is played in your speakers / headphones is to install, then call the following script.